Ezekiel 31:1 kjv
And it came to pass in the eleventh year, in the third month, in the first day of the month, that the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
Ezekiel 31:1 nkjv
Now it came to pass in the eleventh year, in the third month, on the first day of the month, that the word of the LORD came to me, saying,
Ezekiel 31:1 niv
In the eleventh year, in the third month on the first day, the word of the LORD came to me:
Ezekiel 31:1 esv
In the eleventh year, in the third month, on the first day of the month, the word of the LORD came to me:
Ezekiel 31:1 nlt
On June 21, during the eleventh year of King Jehoiachin's captivity, this message came to me from the LORD:
Ezekiel 31 1 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Eze 29:1 | In the tenth year, in the tenth month, on the twelfth day of the month, the word of the Lord came to me. | Prophecy against Egypt |
| Eze 30:20 | "In the first year of Pharaoh's reign, on the seventh day of the first month, the word of the Lord came to me. | Prophecy against Egypt |
| Eze 32:1 | The word of the Lord came to me: | Prophecy concerning Egypt |
| Jer 43:8-13 | Jeremiah's prophecy against Pharaoh Hophra in Egypt. | Judgment on Egypt |
| Jer 46:2 | Against Egypt, concerning the army of Pharaoh Necho, king of Egypt, which was by the river Euphrates in Carchemish. | Judgment on Egypt |
| Isa 19:1-15 | Prophecy against Egypt. | Judgment on Egypt |
| Ps 74:12-17 | God's power over creation, including Egypt. | God's Sovereignty |
| Ex 12:2 | "This month shall be your beginning of months. | New beginnings |
| Num 1:1 | The Lord spoke to Moses in the wilderness of Sinai. | God's communication |
| Ezek 3:16 | "At the end of seven days it came to pass that the word of the Lord came to me." | God's call to prophecy |
| Ezek 8:1 | "In the sixth year, in the sixth month, on the fifth day, as I sat in my house..." | Ezekiel's visions |
| Ezek 20:1 | "In the seventh year, in the fifth month, on the tenth day, certain of the elders of Israel came to seek the Lord..." | Instruction from God |
| Ezek 24:1 | The ninth year, in the tenth month, on the tenth day, the word of the Lord came to me. | Judgment on Jerusalem |
| Gen 1:1 | In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. | Creation |
| Deut 32:1 | "Give ear, O heavens, and I will speak; Let the earth hear the words of my mouth." | Moses' song |
| Job 38:1 | Then the Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind. | God speaks to Job |
| Ps 2:4 | He who sits in the heavens laughs; the Lord holds them in derision. | God's Sovereignty |
| Isa 13:1 | The oracle concerning Babylon that Isaiah the son of Amoz received. | Prophecy against Babylon |
| Jer 1:11-12 | "Moreover, the word of the Lord came to me, saying, 'Jeremiah, what do you see?'" | Jeremiah's calling |
| Hab 2:1 | I will stand my watch and set myself on the rampart. | Habakkuk's prayer |
Ezekiel 31 verses
Ezekiel 31 1 Meaning
The eleventh year of King Jehoiachin's exile, in the fourth month, on the fifth day of the month, the word of the Lord came to Ezekiel the prophet. This verse marks a specific time stamp for a significant prophetic message delivered to Ezekiel. It establishes the historical setting for a prophecy concerning the king of Egypt and his former power and ultimate downfall.
Ezekiel 31 1 Context
This verse ushers in a new section of Ezekiel's prophecy. Chapter 31 shifts focus from the impending judgment on Jerusalem to the judgment on Egypt. The specific date indicates that this prophecy is being delivered during the Babylonian siege of Jerusalem, which commenced in the ninth year of Jehoiachin's reign. The prophet's message concerns Egypt, a nation often intertwined with Israel's history, both as an ally and as a source of power and potential rebellion. Historically, this period saw Egypt as a regional power attempting to exert influence in the Near East, even making alliances against Babylon. The prophecy therefore addresses a significant contemporary political and spiritual reality for the Judean exiles.
Ezekiel 31 1 Word Analysis
- וַֽיְהִי (vayehí): And it came to pass. This is a common introductory phrase in Hebrew narrative, marking the progression of events or the beginning of a new account.
- בְּשַׁ֨נַּת (bishnat): in the year. Specifies the time period.
- אַחַ֤ת (achat): eleventh. Indicates the specific year.
- עֶשְׂרֵה֙ (esreh): ten. Combined with 'achat' forms "eleventh."
- לְגָלוּת֙ (legalut): of the captivity. Refers to the exile of King Jehoiachin and a segment of the Judean population.
- מֶֽלֶךְ־ (melekh-): of King. Designates Jehoiachin.
- יְהוֹיָכִ֔ין (Yehoyachin): Jehoiachin. The king of Judah who was exiled by Nebuchadnezzar.
- וַֽיְהִ֕י (vayehí): and it came to pass. Repeats the introductory phrase.
- בַּחֹ֖דֶשׁ (bachodesh): in the month. Specifies the month.
- רְבִעי֙ (revi'i): fourth. Indicates the specific month.
- בַּחֲמִשִּׁ֣י (bachamishi): fifth. Specifies the day.
- לַחֹ֑דֶשׁ (lachodesh): of the month. Combined with 'hamishi' forms "fifth day of the month."
- הָיָ֥ה (hayah): came. Denotes arrival or happening.
- דְבַר־ (devar-): word. Refers to the message.
- יְהוָ֖ה (YHWH): LORD. The personal name of God.
- אֶל־ (el-): to. Indicates the recipient of the message.
- יְחֶזְקֵ֥אל (Yechezk'el): Ezekiel. The prophet.
- הַנָּבִ֖יא (hannaví): the prophet. Describes Ezekiel's role.
Group analysis: The phrase "In the eleventh year of the exile of King Jehoiachin, in the fourth month, on the fifth day of the month" precisely dates the prophetic utterance. The repetition of "vayehí" (and it came to pass) emphasizes the sequential unfolding of God's redemptive and judgmental plan through His prophet Ezekiel.
Ezekiel 31 1 Bonus Section
The meticulous dating of this prophecy is a characteristic feature of Ezekiel's writing, emphasizing God's sovereignty over time and history. This specific date, the eleventh year of Jehoiachin's exile, falls shortly after the destruction of Jerusalem by the Babylonians (which occurred in the eleventh year of Zedekiah's reign, though the exiles would mark time from the earlier deportation of Jehoiachin). The fourth month, fifth day, corresponds to a time of intense hardship for the Judeans, making a prophecy about foreign nations potentially a source of hope or a warning about misplaced trust in earthly powers. The upcoming prophecy compares Egypt to a mighty cedar tree in Lebanon, a powerful metaphor used in scripture to represent great nations or kings (see Daniel 4). This imagery often signifies arrogance and a misplaced sense of security, which will be judged by God.
Ezekiel 31 1 Commentary
This verse serves as a temporal marker for a new prophetic oracle directed at Ezekiel. It anchors the prophecy within a specific historical context—the eleventh year of King Jehoiachin's exile. This precise dating underscores the reliability of the prophecy and its relevance to the contemporary exilic community. The message that follows concerns Egypt, a powerful nation in the ancient Near East, which was a significant player in regional politics affecting Judah. God uses events and nations to execute His sovereign will, and this prophecy announces His judgment on Egypt, highlighting its pride and eventual humbling, a theme consistent with many of Ezekiel's oracles against the nations.